Adjustable frame for effigies



Feb. 28, 1.928. L 1,660,735

E. B.vw|,|.soN

ADJUSTABLE FAME Fon EFFIGIES A Filed Deo. v, 1922 INVENTOR E.l 3' Vf/san ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 28, 1928.

UNITE ST if" l insane f i EDWIN-BIRD WILSON, or FoRns'r HILLS, 'NEW YORK, assreNoRl 'ro nnsien LABORAL j rroRIRs, INOORRORATRD, or new YORK, n. Y., A cpoRroRarron*oi1 NRW'YORER.

ADJUSTABLE FRAME FOR EFFIGIES.

Application filed December A7, 1922. .Serial No. 605,465. l

This inventionrelates to improvements adjustable stretchers or frames for determining the outlines of efiigies, dolls or partsv thereof.

e It is the object of the present invention tov provide a stretcher frame of the above identified character and which is reliable in operation notwithstanding the simplicity and cheapness of its construction.

Nith this object in view, I provide a substantially loop shaped distortable stretcher frame on which the casing of the efigy, such as the covering ofa dolls head, may be mounted. This franieV is preferably of some semi-rigid but flexible material such as a l steel spring or a thin strip of wood or whale-) bone which may be readily pressed-into any of a seriesof desired shapes and which has usually a tendency to resume one normal shape. In accordance with the present in-v vention, the said stretcherframe is retained in its distorted position by meansof an auX- iliary Iframe connected therewith. The aur-v thin outer loop, asis somewhat the 4casein the other forms lackingthe jointedv framev within the resilient loop. x

vThe collapsible frame forming theobject of the present invention isfan improvement on the frame structurev disclosed in my co-y pending application Serial'No. 605,466, filed Dec. 7 ,l 1922, and is adapted for any or all application. j f

The various featuresof the present invention will morereadily appear' from the following detaileddescription of a preferred embodimentand the appended claims.

The drawings illustrate a collapsiblef-rame embodying the `variousl features of ,theV pres-l ent invention.'- The effigies for l'which such frame may serve as a mounting are not illustrated. Reference may be had for such illutlftiQD- .t0 .my said copending applicaf usesy described in detail in said copending tion; `Fig. 1 is a front view of the frame normal position; Fig. V2 is a'sectional View along lines 2 2; Fig. Sie a front viewy of the frame in onedistorted condition, and Fig. 4t is a view of an eigy in the formy of a human'face supported on a iframe.

The frame consists .of a resilient loop 1 heldtogether rby a suitable clamp such as plates 2-2 which are'v riveted at 3.".'This clamp and the ends 24 of the framell are suitably formed-for attachment to the body or other portionofthe eiligy.

l/*Vithin the loop 1y anV auxiliary frame consisting o f rigid links Ll, '5, 6 and 7 is provided f' for :the purpose ofv holding. the loopl 1 in its distorted positions. Each n link ,4-7 is slightlybent to form an elbowat itscenter and when the ends of the joints are placed to-` Y gether,"the` ointed or .toggle frame ,will form substantially anoctagon. lThe ends-,of the links:arehingedl together to form this toggle frame on pins 8, 9, 10 and 11. The links may be rotated onthesepins,` and the pins also servefor holding the loop 1A ,closev to the hingey points or, toggle joints by v means of straps 12, 13, 14 which` surround loop 1 `and engage thelends of the pins'. .The pin 8 hingesthe lower Vends of. the linkse and 7 to a fixed hinge plate 15, held byk rivets 3 3 Vin the centerof the clamp formed bythe plates Z-Qand theloop 1.I rlhe upperI end of the hinge plate v15` is properly curled Yatl encircling the pin 8. l

In addition to coupling the adjacent ends 'of thelinks 5 and i and thestrapl the pin 9`carries also the curled'end of a friction-bar 17. Pin 11, in additiontoy coupling links 6 and 7 vand strap 14, carries the curled end of a second friction bar 18. The free end of the bar v18v .is T-shaped before bending, and has ears 19 which are Abent up to straddle the bar 17 The free end ofthe barr 17 is alsoT- shaped, the ears 2O ofthe T being bent'down to straddle the bar 18. `The bar 18 is slotted to receive a screw 21 which traverses substantially lil-shaped lfriction plates 22', `of fibre or hard7 leather or suitable friction ma# rterial,` which bear against the `upper vand v n lower faces of the bar 18. ,These friction plates engage fthe bent-down ears 20 of the bar 1.7. 'Bymeansof al coiled Aspri'ng23 one endofwhich bearsy against the head of `the screwand they other against the lower' fric' tion plateQQ, a definite pressure `may-loe obtained and maintained between the friction pinched or upset when a bar 18 and the friction plates 22 on each side thereof. The end of the screw 21 may be proper adjustment has'been made. v f Y I/Vhen the loop 1 isdistorted into the shape shown in Fig 3,usually by pressure applied at or near strap 13 and exerted toward clamp 2 2, thcnrthe links 4, 5, 6 and 7 Will move with it until they assume the position shown in this figure. The contact of ears `19 with Vthe edges of friction plates 22, if the'fi'aine befurther distorted, will prevent indefinite distortion in this direction. As soon as the pressure is released, notwithstanding the tendency of the springy material of loop 1 to resume its normal position, the friction plates 22 yWill holdthe bars 17 and18 in their relatively displaced positions and will therefore hold the toggle frame and the vloop 1 inthe position shown in F ig,

If the'loopl is distorted in the opposite Way by causing pins 9 and 114 to approach each other, the ends of the bars 17 and18 will separate but the friction between plates 22 and bar 18 will still serve to hold the whole assembly in its new distorted position. The distortion in this opposite direction is of course again limited: by the striking of ears'19 and plates 22 on the hinges Vrespectively about pins 9 and 11. Depending on the shapeV of the auxiliary A frame 4 7, and the number and location of the joints therein, the'loop 1 may be pressed into any desired and predetermined shape.

Furthermore, the proportions of the bars 17 and 18 andof the links 4, 5, 6 and 7 may be greatly varied, depending o n the representation and distortion desired. Thus if bars 17 and 18 are much shortened a very long narrow oval frame Will result Which may be distorted or varied chiefly in VWidth'.

In Fig.` 1 is villustrated a distortable covering 25 mounted on a frame (not shown) and provided with markings 26 indicating the features of a doll.

' rIhe bend or elbow inthe center of links 4, 5,6 and 7 is for the purpose of reinforcing the loop 1. The saine object might be accomplished by other suitable means.

Vhile I prefer to provide an auxiliary jointed frame of rigid material Within a loop shaped resilient frame, the invention may be practiced also Without the latter by mounting lthe covering of the eliigy directly on the jointed frame of rigid `material. Furthermore, the frictional means by `Which the jointed frame sections are held in their distorted positionscinay be modiiied in various forms Without departing. from the spirit of the presentV invention. The number of outer links most suitable is four, as shown, nevertheless more may be used in constructing afraine accordingto this invention if a suitable number of friction members and limiting stops are provided sothat `the'distoi-tions of the frame as a vWhole may bel.;-

suitably limited.

Fig. 4 shows the appearance of an eifigy of the human face mounted on aframe con- 2. In a stretcher, rigid links, joints conV necting adjacent links, friction means holding said joints against acting until sufficient force is'applied, stops to liiiiit the vmotions` of said links about said joints, andailexible` casing defining an leitigy mounted onv said links and distortable in motions.

3. In combination, a plurality Yof yrigid links hinged together into a substantially loop-shaped frame, a semi-flexible loop response to said around said frame of links supported and reinforced thereby, means including a friction member connected with said frame to maintain the links Iin any form imparted thereto, and af'flexible"` ettigyl operatively j i mounted on the frame in suchA a manner as to' vary its shape depending on the form iinparted to the frame. 4. In combination, andouble toggle frame, means including a friction member attached to a plurality of points on said'fraine' for holding it as set, stops for limiting the movement of said toggle frame' inboth dircctions, a semi-.rigid loop surrounding said toggle frame, anv attachment between said loop and said toggle frame, anda flexible casing defining an efhgy stretchedover said loop.` ",1 1

.5. A distoitable stretcher for a distoi'table casing defining an efligy comprising a closed frame of four links, four hinges for said links, a frictionallytelescopic member connecting tivo diagonally opposite hinges, and

loo,"

av flexible loopV attached-around said frame Y to smooth the outline.V

6. lIn a collapsible frame,;a` substantially loop shaped frame capable of distortionV in the plane ofthe loop, a rigid frame dividedv into jointed sections and' connected with points on the'poriphery of the loop shaped frame, a lfrictional' connection between'the jointed sections of the-rigid frame, and a distortable material'` defining anl e'liigy stretched'on said loop.v

7. In a distortable stretcher, a substantially loop shaped resilient'frainecapable of distortion in the plane of the loop, a jointed rigid .frame connected With avplurality of points on the loopjsha'ped frainetwo lbars connectedwithV the Vrigid frame at diiferent poi-nts, a frictional connection between said bars, and a d'ilstortable material` defining an etfigy 'stretched on (the loop'.

iso v .1,660,735 j Y Y 3f 8. In a collapsible frame :for eigies, a one end of thesecondbar andan opposite substantially loop shaped frame of resilient point of the jointed frame, and a frietional 10 material capable of distortion in the plane @Onnection lbetween the free end'of one of of the loop, a jointed frame of links cons aid bars and the other bar. l

5 nected with a plurality of points on said In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe loop Lshaped rarne,a bar, a connection bemy name this sixth day of December, 1922.

tween one end of said bar and the jointed Y frame, a second bar, a connection between v j EDVIN BIRD WILSON. 

